Push-pull type of exercising device

ABSTRACT

A body exerciser comprising a pair of flexible lines, each has at one end a loop to be grasped by a hand of a user and a stirrup at the other end for holding the line tensioned by a person&#39;&#39;s foot. Each stirrup includes two loops, one engaging the bottom of a foot of a user and the other engaging the ankle of a user. Each line passes over a pulley which is secured by hooks to a member which in turn is connected to a fixed support. In use of the exerciser, an arm is moved simultaneously with the leg, the hand and foot being attached by the line so that the tension in the line is between the hand and foot so that the exertion of one member is balanced against the other.

United States Patent 91 Weider [54] PUSH-PULL TYPE or EXERCISING DEVICE[75] Inventor: Benjamin Weider, Quebec, Canada [73] Assignee: lnternaxHoldings Limited, Nassau,

[4 Jan. 7, 1975 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham AssistantExaminer-William R. Browne Attorney, Agent, or FirmHerzig & Walsh [5 7]ABSTRACT A body exerciser comprising a. pair of flexible lines, each hasat one end a loop to be grasped by a hand of a user and a stirrup at theother end for holding the line tensioned by a persons foot. Each stirrupincludes two loops, one engaging the bottom of a foot of a user and theother engaging the ankle of a user. Each line passes over a pulley whichis secured by hooks to a member which in turn is connected to a fixedsupport. In use of the exerciser, an arm is moved simultaneously withthe leg, the hand and foot being attached by the line so that thetension in the line is between the hand and foot so that the exertion ofone member is balanced against the other.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is asimplified body exerciser of a unique construction and configurationwhich makes it possible for a person to do a large number of particularexercises without tiring; whereas otherwise, the average person would beable to do only a small fraction of this number.

In the preferred form of the invention as described herein, it takes theform of flexible lines or cords, each of which passes over a pulleysecured to a fixed support. At one end of each of the lines is a handgrip; and at the other end, there is a foot grip or stirrup constructedso that the foot can hold that end of the line. Each of the lines isgrasped at one end with a hand and is held with the foot in a stirrup atthe other end. This configuration enables the person using the exerciserto do a number of particular exercises without tiring with the tensionin the line being between the hand at one end and the foot at the otherend of the same side of the body.

In use, a person lies on the floor, grasping the hand grips at the endsof lines, with the other ends of the lines being held by the feetsitrrups. This makes it possible to pull the arms forward while the legsare raised at the same time. As stated, the tension in the lines isbetween the hand and foot at opposite ends'of the line. Thisconstruction of the exerciser makes it possible to realize a number ofpurposes and to achieve particular objects without tiring, among thembeing the following.

A person using the exerciser may do about 500 leg raises and other legraise motions or exercises at one time without pause; whereas withoutthe exerciser, an average person can only do about leg raises withouttiring. By bringing the arms forward and the legs up, the user exercisesthe total upper body including his lower body and mid section all at onetime. Further, because of the many repetitions done in continuousrythmic fashion, the heart and lungs are stimulated, helping tostrengthen the heart, lungs, and total respiratory system. Additionally,the internal organs are massaged and stimulated. The abdominal musclesare strengthened, helping to prevent rupture and collapses of theabdomen and also to help indigestion and the elimination of gas. Becausethe exerciser lies on the floor there is less strain on the heart thanthere is from jogging or other standing motions. Because of the simplemovement of the arms and legs, no strains or tears of ligaments canoccur. By exercising the total body at one time and bringing into playat the same time the total respiratory system, the exercises possiblewith the device will become one of the most natural and healthful formspossible. The achievement and realization of all these resultsconstitutes objects of the invention.

Further objects of the invention reside in realizing an exerciser whichis simple, light in weight, economical, and which is capable of beingused anywhere. Thus the objective is realized of exercise sessions notbeing missed when traveling, when the person is short on time, and byreason of the availability of the device of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and additionaladvantages of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description and annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa preferred form of the invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are illustrative views showing basic, preferredexercising movements undertaken in the utilization of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, the inventioncomprises a triangular, flat plate 10 which may be made of plastichaving holes 12, 14, and 16 at its apices or corners. Numeral 20designates a length of line or cord which may preferably be nylon.Numeral 22 designates a cylindrical plastic plug having three axialbores in it. Cord 20 is passed through hole 12 in plate 10 and throughone of the axial bores in plug 22. A loop 26 is formed with the end ofthe line being brought back through another of the axial bores in plug22 to form loop 28 with the end of the line then inserted through thethird axial bore with a knot 30 formed in the end of it. Loop 26 may belooped over a door knob 32, as shown, as an exemplary way of attachingor securing plate 10.

Numerals 40 and 42 designate typical pulleys mounted in yokes havingattaching hooks 44 and 46 which are hooked through holes 14 and 16 inplate 10.

Numeral 50 designates a length of nylon cord which passes over pulley 40and having at one end a loop 52 preferably encased in plastic tubing 54to form a hand grip. At the other end of line 50 there are formed twoloops 56 and 58, the end of line 50 forms the loop 56. Its end issecured to an intermediate part of the line by way of a band or holdingmember 60. Loop 58 is formed by a length of the cord having its endssuitably secured to line 50 by fasteners or bands 62 and 64. Loops 56and 58 form a stirrup adapted to being held by a persons foot, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 through 6.

The other line 50' islike line 50, and it passes over pulley 42. It hasa similar hand grip 52' at one end and stirrup formed by loops 56 and58' at the other end.

FIGS. 2 through 6 illustrate basic uses or preferred exercisingmovements to be made using the exercising device. These particular basicmovements are calculated to bring about achievement and realization ofthe objects as set forth in the foregoing.

Preferably, the user lies on the floor as illustrated in FIG. 2,grasping the hand grips in his hands and having the stirrups at theother end of the line engaging his feet as shown.

FIG. 3 illustrates basic movements in which the persons arms are movedforwardly while lying on his back and the legs are raised. As may beseen, the tension in the lines is between the left hand and left footand between the right hand and right foot. This enables the person to domany leg raises as described in the foregoing without tiring, thusmaking possible results not otherwise attainable. Of course, thismovement as illustrated is subject to variations by way of the personbending the elbows in various degrees, that is, at various angles.Similarly, the knees may be bent in various degrees. Bending of theknees while raising the two legs together is illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 illustrates another basic fonn of exercise, wherein therespective arm and leg on each side of the body is actuatedindependently. The left arm has been swung forward while the leg raiseis undertaken with the left leg while the other leg is outstretched andon the floor as shown. Again, many variations can be made in the basicexercise.

As mentioned in the foregoing, FIG. illustrates a variation of the basicexercise wherein the leg raises are executed with both legs at the sametime but the knees are simultaneously bent as shown.

FIG. 6 illustrates a variation analogous to that of FIG. 4 wherein themovements are executed separately by the left arm and leg and right armand leg with the knees being bent again as illustrated in FIG. 5.Variations can also be made in this set of basic exercises as well.

Certain inherent characteristics of the invention will be apparent fromthe foregoing description and the illustration of utilization of theinvention. It is to be noted that loops 56 and 58 are attached to line50 near its end. To utilize the loops, the foot need only be insertedinto them as illustrated in the figures. It is to be noted as shown inthe figures that when the leg is extended, loop 56 or 56 which isunderneath the foot opposite the instep, it is in a position to hold andapply tension to the line. This is true also when the foot is in theposition as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the knee bent. On the otherhand, when the leg is in an upright position as illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4, then the loop which is around the ankle is primarily in aposition to hold the line and tension it. Both loops are secureddirectly to the line so their purposes as described can be accomplished.It is to be observed that throughout the movements of the arms and legs,the lines are held at one end by the foot by way of double loops so thattension can be maintained in the lines. Of course, the user can increasethe tension in the lines and thus augment the strenuousness of theexercise by applying a force or resistance to the ends of the lines withthe arms and/or legs.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand and appreciate the nature of the exerciser, its utilization,and the specific manner in which it achieves and realizes all of theobjectives as set forth in the foregoing.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of theinvention, and it is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than alimiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device comprising: first flexible line means having asingle loop at one end adapted for engagement by a persons hand twoloops at the other end adapted for engagement by a persons instep andankle, and second flexible line means having a single loop at one endadapted for engagement by the persons other hand and two loops at theother end adapted for engagement by the persons other instep and ankle;and pulley means providing a support for both said line means passingthereover whereby the line means may be tensioned by way of movements ofthe persons respective hands and feet when engaging their associatedloops, said pulley means being adapted for attachment to a fixedsupport, the two loops for each foot being oriented so that the insteploop tensions its line means when a users legs are extended horizontallyand the ankle loop tensions the line means when the user's legs arevertical.

2. A device as in claim 1, including a member, wherein said pulley meansincludes pulleys attached to said member, and means for securing saidmember to a fixed support.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said member is in the form ofa platehaving holes therein, said pulleys including hooks hooked into saidholes, and said securing means includes a line attached to said plate atanother hole in said plate.

1. An exercising device comprising: first flexible line means having asingle loop at one end adapted for engagement by a person''s hand twoloops at the other end adapted for engagement by a person''s instep andankle, and second flexible line means having a single loop at one endadapted for engagement by the person''s other hand and two loops at theother end adapted for engagement by the person''s other instep andankle; and pulley means providing a support for both said line meanspassing thereover whereby the line means may be tensioned by way ofmovements of the person''s respective hands and feet when engaging theirassociated loops, said pulley means being adapted for attachment to afixed support, the two loops for each foot being oriented so that theinstep loop tensions its line means when a user''s legs are extendedhorizontally and the ankle loop tensions the line means when the user''slegs are vertical.
 2. A device as in claim 1, including a member,wherein said pulley means includes pulleys attached to said member, andmeans for securing said member to a fixed support.
 3. A device as inclaim 2, wherein said member is in the form of a plate having holestherein, said pulleys including hooks hooked into said holes, and saidsecuring means includes a line attached to said plate at another hole insaid plate.